Tennis-Open-Djokovic, Stosur win, Robson pulls off another upset

August 31, 2012|Reuters

By Steve Ginsburg

NEW YORK, Aug 31 (Reuters) - Defending champions NovakDjokovic and Samantha Stosur continued their easy paths throughthe U.S. Open on Friday, while China's Li Na became the latestvictim of British giant-killer Laura Robson.

But it was Robson's gritty 6-4 6-7 6-2 triumph over formerFrench Open champion Li, who triumphed in Cincinnati earlierthis month, that created the biggest buzz at the year's finalgrand slam.

Robson sent four-times grand slam champion Kim Clijstersinto retirement in the second round but her upset ofninth-seeded Li surely made believers of those who thought shemight be a one-hit wonder.

Next up in the fourth round is Australian Stosur.

"I have had a fairly tough draw, haven't I?" the soft-spoken18-year-old told reporters with a laugh.

"You have to beat who is in front of you. ... That's what Imanaged to do so far. I play Stosur now, who is defending champ.That's going to be really tough.

At 2-2 in the third set, Robson thought she had broken servebut umpire Louise Engzell ruled that the point should bereplayed, even though Li had missed with her return.

The 89th-ranked Robson, however, refused to bend, breakingLi's serve twice to lead 5-2 before serving out the match.

"I wouldn't say I wasn't distracted. I was a little bitannoyed," Robson said of the umpire's call. "But that's whathappens from time to time, so you've got to deal with it."

LOVE AFFAIR

While Robson's star is rising, Andy Roddick's is on the wayout as the American faces up and coming Australian Bernard Tomicunder the lights later Friday at Ashe Stadium in what could behis last career match.

New Yorkers have always loved Roddick and the 24,000 inattendance will surely bring that love affair to a new levelgiven Roddick's announcement on Thursday that he is retiringafter the tournament.

In other matches, third seeded Russian Maria Sharapova, the2006 U.S. Open winner, advanced easily, as did Spain's fourthseed David Ferrer on the men's side.

Djokovic dropped just two games in his opening-round winover Italy's Paolo Lorenzi and Silva managed only three more asthe second-seeded Serb was in a different class.

"I didn't know much about my opponent," said Djokovic."Never saw him play. So that could have been difficult at thestart in order to figure out what his game plan is. But I playedwell from the start to the end."

Stosur was broken in the opening game of her match, settingthe tone for a gruelling first set, which lasted 59 minutes. Butthe Australian secured the tiebreaker 7-5 and blew through thesecond set over a frustrated Lepchenko in 29 minutes.

"As the match went on I probably became a little bit morecomfortable, got used to her spin, and maybe the wind a littlebit more," said Stosur, who lost only five games in her firsttwo matches. "Once I got that first set then maybe I relaxed alittle bit more."